Driver Andrew Comrie-Picard (ACP) drove the 108.37 mile race through 16 stages on Saturday and Sunday and took a decisive win in his NOS Energy Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX with K&N products. “We race in a high dust, high speed environment with a motor built right to the edge of envelope,” said Comrie-Picard. “We can’t let any contaminants get into our engine and that’s why we choose K&N air filters. K&N protects our engine and gives us excellent filtration. K&N has been our choice for more than a decade.”

Andrew Comrie-Picard has moved into the top-three in points in the overall Rally American National Rally Championship Series

Team Andrew Comrie-Picard has made K&N its product of choice for more than a decade in racing

Rally Colorado was challenging for the competitors. They faced fast high-desert roads around the Yampa Valley where the weather was anything but consistent. Dry, dusty conditions on Day 1 were replaced by driving rain that turned the roads slick with mud on Day 2.

“I love it when it’s a battle,” said Comrie-Picard. “We were fighting tooth and nail with Travis Pastrana early in the rally and that’s really satisfying.”

Just as the weather shifted gears from Day 1 to Day 2, so did the battle between ACP and Pastrana. Subaru Rally Team USA rival Pastrana barreled through a chicane on Day 2 and was penalized. As a result, Comrie-Picard and co-driver Jeremy Wimpey found themselves holding position at the front of the pack for the second half of the rally.

“We would have preferred to have raced hard in a close fight to the end,” said Comrie-Picard. “But to finish a minute and 46 seconds in the lead is an accomplishment to be proud of after more than 100 miles of racing.” Team ACP took eight out 16 stage wins, the most of any team.

The first-place finish moves Comrie-Picard into the top-three in the overall Rally America Series, ahead of Subaru Rally Team USA driver Ken Block. It also extends his lead in the North American Championship. There is only one round remaining in U.S. competition and Comrie-Picard has enough points to at least tie Block for third place in the 2009 season. The points for the top five Rally Drivers are as follows:

“If Rally Colorado was anything to go by, the final round next month is going to be intense,” said Comrie-Picard. “We’re making every round count this season.” Second place went to Polish driver Andi Mancin and co-driver Maciej Wislawski, while Nathan Conley and co-driver Todd Moberly finished in third place overall. It’s the first time that Mitsubishi cars have scored a one-two finish in Rally America history, said Comrie-Picard.

The final race in the 2009 Rally America National Rally Championship Series will be the Lake Superior Rally, October 16-17 in Houghton, Michigan.